A new business got the go ahead to move forward with plans for the vacant Foodtown site in Hartland Thursday night. Tractor Supply Company, a rural lifestyles retailer based out of Brentwood, Tennessee has plans to lease the space formerly occupied by Foodtown. WHMI had previously reported that Tractor Supply would be going into the adjacent vacant Wal-Mart store, but that was incorrect. We apologize for the error. Chris Kettler of Kettler Real Estate Services represented the retailer at the Planning Commission looking for approval of plans to renovate the building to suit the new store. Kettler and building owner Frank Jarbou fielded questions from planning commissioners about proposed changes to the building. Plans include adding a new roof, drywall and a three to 4-foot knee wall along the walkway in front of the building as a screen. There will also be an additional outdoor retail space on the west side of the building. Township Planner Troy Langer says with the conditional site plan approval they have gotten over the big hurdles. Langer says tells WHMI he looks forward to the new business coming to Hartland. Planning commissioners approved the site plans on the condition that Jarbou make some changes, including adding block to the top of the back wall, which will act as a noise buffer for the new heating and air conditioning unit on the buildingâs roof. Although Jarbou hadnât planned on the additional improvements, the new store is set to open sometime in mid-fall. Kettler says Tractor Supply takes possession of the building on about July 15th. (JK)
Tractor Supply To Fill Vacant Foodtown Store In HartlandTractor Supply To Fill Vacant Foodtown Store In Hartland
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Downtown Howell In Top Ten Running For National Main Street ContestDowntown Howell In Top Ten Running For National Main Street Contest
In the last ten years, Downtown Howell has transformed from a place someone might drive through, to a destination that many drive to. USA Today has nominated downtown Howell in its national top 10 contest and as a finalist for the 2016 Great American Main Street award. Downtown Development Authority Director Cathleen Edgerly encourages residents to vote for Howell every day until June 20th by visiting the DDAâs Facebook page. Edgerly and several other DDA members attended the National Main Street Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last weekend to share and learn with staff from downtown authorities across the country. Edgerly says the conference included tours of nearby main street communities and sessions relating to improving downtown regions. Edgerly tells WHMI downtown Howell has been evolving for the last decade and that was a major theme she took away from the conference, as well as how to make the downtown even better. Downtown Howell is heading into a busy season as the weather continues to warm up and Edgerly encourages the community to come out and enjoy all that it has to offer. A full list of upcoming festivals and events for the area are available at downtownhowell.org. (DK)
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Howell Hires New Executive Director for InstructionHowell Hires New Executive Director for Instruction
The Howell Public Schools Board of Education agreed to extend a contract to a former employee to fill a central office vacancy. Last fall the Executive Director of Instructional Services gave notice that she would be stepping down, leaving a vacancy at the end of this year. Over the last few weeks nine of 47 candidates for the position were interviewed and the field was narrowed to a final three. Last night the board extended a contract to man familiar to the district. Elson Liu previously spent eight years in Howell in Technology Services and says he is glad to be back in the area. He says he started his career in public education in Howell in 2000, when he was hired as a Technology Services Teacher Training Coordinator. He worked in the district for eight years and then became Director of Technology for Brighton Area Schools. He's been in Plymouth-Canton Schools for the last three years and says that's where he met current Howell Superintendent Erin MacGregor. Liu says when he saw the opportunity it made a lot of sense for his family to come back here. Liu says he is not a typical educator coming from a technology background, but he says heâs well suited to the position. Liu is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and most recently worked as Director of Integrated Technology Systems in Plymouth-Canton Community Schools. Liu says he and his family have spent the last 15 years in the Howell area and is excited to be back working in the district. (DS)
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State Holds Meetings With Local Auto Repair Shop Owners State Holds Meetings With Local Auto Repair Shop Owners
Two local auto repair businesses met with the state this week regarding cease and desist orders. M & M & Sons LLC, otherwise known as Mr. Muffler, and L & M Mobile Farm Services were among those listed in a press release about âOperation Torque Wrenchâ - a crackdown by Secretary of State Ruth Johnsonâs office on unlicensed auto repair shops. Mr. Muffler was cited for having an expired mechanicâs license and L & M for an expired facility license. The owners of both Genoa Township shops have disputed the state's assertions and previously told WHMI they had the proper licenses and were personally informed by a department representative they could resume business. The state has maintained the cease and desist orders remained active, thus the meetings were scheduled to discuss their status and what they needed to do before they could resume business. Department of State Spokesman Fred Woodams tells WHMI their understanding is that L&M does not wish to attempt to obtain a repair facility license and wonât be doing further business. The owner, Jason Nierescher, told WHMI he decided itâs time to retire. Meanwhile, Woodhams says the owner of M&M had a preliminary conference Wednesday and the department is considering the next steps regarding that business. Calls for comment have been placed with owner Bob Makins. (JM)
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Firefighters Battle Thursday Night Blaze At Home On Whitmore Lake RoadFirefighters Battle Thursday Night Blaze At Home On Whitmore Lake Road
Water tankers had to be called in to help fight a blaze at a home on Whitmore Lake Road Thursday night. The Green Oak Township Fire Department received multiple calls from passers-by on the freeway reporting a house on fire on Whitmore Lake Road near Silver Lake Road at around 11:30pm. Fire Chief Kevin Gentry tells WHMI upon arrival, units found a well involved house fire with two cars in the driveway. Firefighters attacked the fire and searched the residence for occupants but found none. The residents were eventually located at a relativeâs home. Gentry says the fire was extinguished in 15 minutes but the home sustained heavy damage. There were no injuries but the fire was in an area without fire hydrants. Green Oak had to call in water tankers and was assisted at the scene by the Hamburg, Northfield and Brighton Area Fire Departments. (JM)
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Traffic Problems Reported All Day Throughout Livingston County Traffic Problems Reported All Day Throughout Livingston County
The start of the Memorial Day Holiday weekend was marked by heavy traffic on local roads and freeways. Lengthy traffic delays were reported on US-23 in the Northfield Township/Whitmore Lake area this afternoon. A car hauler was reportedly stuck underneath the 8 Mile Road bridge on southbound US-23 and the right lane was blocked. Earlier this morning and into the afternoon, a semi-truck that caught fire had westbound I-96 down to one lane, which caused delays on the freeway and local roads. Traffic was crawling along Grand River in both Howell and Brighton while additional problems were reported on M-59. (JM)
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Local Lawmakers Urge AG to Join Lawsuit Regarding Transgender Bathrooms Local Lawmakers Urge AG to Join Lawsuit Regarding Transgender Bathrooms
All three lawmakers representing Livingston County in Lansing have weighed in on the controversial issue of bathroom preference by urging the state to join a lawsuit against the federal government. State Senator Joe Hune, along with State Representatives Lana Theis and Hank Vaupel, have signed a letter encouraging Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette to take part in a lawsuit against an executive branch directive regarding transgender bathroom policies in schools around the nation. Hune believes that his is a âcritical issue facing Michigan children,â and that the Attorney General should be providing guidance as to the legality of the issue at hand. Eleven states have filed a lawsuit regarding the directive, seeking to block the Obama administration from implementing policies to allow students to use school bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity. Vaupel says local districts, and not the federal or state government, should best determine safety policies for the children that attend classes in their jurisdiction. Theis believes the directive is indicative of an âout-of-control federal governmentâ that is putting children at risk. Advocates say the directive protects the rights of young transgender students who already face bullying and discrimination and that basic civil rights, whether for the LGBT community or anyone else, should not be up for public debate or vote. (JM)
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"Howell Story Corps" Shares the Stories of Howell Public Schools"Howell Story Corps" Shares the Stories of Howell Public Schools
Everyone has a story, and one Howell High School senior is working to share those stories. Greg Kearns created the Howell Story Corps as a way to gather and share the stories of not only students, faculty and teachers but anyone in Howell Public Schools. Kearns and Howell High School Teacher Jay McDowell brought the idea to life, which was inspired by the popular Humans of New York series. Kearns began the Howell Story Corps with interviews of students and teachers at Howell High School. Itâs expanded since then to include some elementary school teachers. Although Kearns is graduating in June, he has made plans to ensure the Howell Story Corps will continue and identified a member of the junior class to take it over during the next school year. (JM)
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Impact Assessment Approved For Next Phase At Lakeshore VillageImpact Assessment Approved For Next Phase At Lakeshore Village
The Genoa Township Board recently granted final approvals for the next phase of Lakeshore Village - a continuation of the existing apartment development. The environmental impact assessment was the final part that needed to be approved by the township board and all outstanding items have been addressed. Phase three will be located immediately south of the existing phase two and also have an entrance on Chilson Road. It involves the construction of nine buildings consisting of 144 apartment units, along with a business center and clubhouse. The township has been working with the developer, Lockwood Companies, who built phases one and two a number of years ago. Supervisor Gary McCririe says an adjacent piece of property became available for an expansion, so the developer took advantage of it. McCririe tells WHMI the developer has been very cooperative and anticipates the project will move forward pretty quickly. He says the condition of the planning commission was that the level of service would not get worse with the project and a traffic study was performed with the additional outlet onto Chilson Road, out of the back end of the project, which alleviates any concern. Board member Robin Hunt questioned the proximity of a unit being so close to Chilson Road and developers assured the board additional trees and landscaping will be added. Developers further noted contact was made with the homeowner, who had no problems with the revised plans. Developers stated upgrades in phases one and two are also planned, which will include buildings and the clubhouse where the pool is located. As with many projects that get a lot of traffic, McCririe says the internal roads will need some additional work and beefing up where the pavement has failed, speed bumps will be taken out and general improvements will be made for the residents. (JM)
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Fowlerville Police Officer Stops Heroin Overdose With NarcanFowlerville Police Officer Stops Heroin Overdose With Narcan
A Fowlerville Police Officer saved the life of an individual overdosing on heroin yesterday by utilizing some recently acquired skills. On Friday, Fowlerville Police Officer Eric Sorenson responded to Hickory Street in the Village of Fowlerville on a report of a full arrest and possible heroin overdose. When Sorenson arrived, he found the victim in medical distress with agonal breathing. Sorenson determined that the medical distress was a result of a heroin overdose and administered Narcan, or naloxone, which is an antidote to an opioid overdose. The victim's breathing began to return to normal and the Fowlerville Area Fire Department arrived shortly after and administered a second dose of Narcan. The victim was transported to a local hospital. The Fowlerville Police Department recently completed training in how to administer Narcan and officers now carry an injector on their person at all times. (DK)
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District Asked To Assume Control Of Community Center SchedulingDistrict Asked To Assume Control Of Community Center Scheduling
The city of Brighton is asking the Brighton Area School District if it would be willing to take over the scheduling for the Brighton Community Center. The building and property, which are owned by the city, are used for community functions such as Boy Scout meetings, Rotary Club meetings, by other community groups and by the city as a whole. Since the city is severing its ties with SELCRA â the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority â beginning July 1st, it is proposing that the schools take over running the Community Center, something SELCRA has been doing for the last several years. In the proposal, the city says it will share the proceeds from renting out the facility with the school district. Superintendent Greg Gray told the Board of Education Monday night that since the district already has many buildings, with over one million square feet of total floor space, it could easily absorb handling the Community Center operations. Gray said the City Council is expected to take up the matter at its next meeting on June 2nd. (TT)
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Livingston County's Jobless Rate Improves In April Livingston County's Jobless Rate Improves In April
Livingston Countyâs jobless rate improved from March to April. Livingston Countyâs April unemployment rate stood at 3.5% - dropping one full percentage point from March. Livingstonâs ranking also improved to 11th among Michiganâs 83 counties. Officials with the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives said total employment levels increased in most regions over the month, while labor force levels were mixed. The stateâs April unemployment rate remains below the national average at 4.8% and is said to be at its lowest rate in 15 years. During April, the state says workforce levels declined in nine regions and increased in eight. The largest reductions were posted in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn statistical area, which includes Livingston County. (JM)
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Brighton Area Historical Society to Hold Memorial Day Civil War ExhibitBrighton Area Historical Society to Hold Memorial Day Civil War Exhibit
The CoBACH center in Brighton will be open on Memorial Day for a special exhibit of museum-quality Civil War items. Jim Vichich of the Brighton Area Historical Society tells WHMI that two area residents have an extensive collection of Civil War era antiques and memorabilia that was actually used in combat. People will have the opportunity to see Brightonâs Memorial Day parade and also view the exhibits at the CoBACH Center. The owners of the private collection will be on hand to explain the items and their historical significance. The exhibit is open to the public free of charge, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CoBACH Center at the corner of West Main and St. Paul streets in downtown Brighton. (TT)
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County Adopts Guidelines Regarding Donated PropertyCounty Adopts Guidelines Regarding Donated Property
County authorities will now have a list of guidelines to help them decide whether accepting donated land is in their best interest. The Livingston County Board of Commissioners has adopted a list of guidelines for recommendations regarding donated property to be used for public park use. Planning Director Kathleen Kline-Hudson says when a donor wishes to bequeath their land to the county, it is important to determine first if accepting it will be beneficial. The county has had issues in the past when theyâve accepted land on the donorâs terms that restricted how it could be used in the future. If the land cannot be managed or generate revenue because of the donorâs wishes, it can sometimes be a burden on the county. The guidelines ask the committee and board to take certain things into consideration before accepting land in terms of how usable it will be under the countyâs ownership. Commissioner Don Parker was the only board member in opposition to adopting the guidelines. He says where he comes from, âyou donât look a gift horse in the mouthâ and doesnât like some of the provisions in the guidelines. One such unfavorable condition Parker named was that donors provide additional funds to manage the property. However the other Board members say the guidelines are simply a screening and not a hard list of criteria that must be met by donors. Hudson says the goal is to use the conditions to think in basic terms and proactively. (DK)
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Brighton School Board OKs Improvements at BECC, BHSBrighton School Board OKs Improvements at BECC, BHS
The Brighton Board of Education, meeting Monday night in regular session, approved the purchase and installation of new carpeting for the BECC building and furniture and carpeting for the high school media center. The items are being purchased with bond monies from the $88.5 million bond issue passed in 2012 by district voters. The contract totals slightly over $185,000 for flooring and carpeting - $111,000 for BECC and $62,000 for the high school media center. The carpeting at BECC will replace old carpeting that has not been replaced for many years, is very worn and has numerous stains. The contract for furniture for the high school media center amounts to just over $83,000, including about $55,000 for seating and tables, $27,000 for study tables and seats and $1,000 for mobile stools. The contracts were approved based on the recommendation of the George W. Auch Company, the district construction managers on bond issue projects. (TT)
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Local Man Who Allegedly Filmed Himself Molesting Children SentencedLocal Man Who Allegedly Filmed Himself Molesting Children Sentenced
A Livingston County man who police say filmed himself molesting small children will serve a lengthy prison sentence. The 28-year-old Deerfield Township man has been sentenced to 25 to 40 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections and is required to pay $1,200 in restitution. The man is not being named because he is reportedly related to the victims and doing so could reveal the victimsâ identity. The incidents are believed to have occurred in Hartland Township in September. The individual was originally charged with ten counts related to the alleged incidents, however he pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count each of first degree criminal sexual conduct of a victim under 13, child abusive commercial activity and using a computer to commit those crimes. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss 7 similar charges. (DK)
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Local Actor/Director To Teach At Michigan State University Local Actor/Director To Teach At Michigan State University
An actor-director who lives locally will share his skills with students at Michigan State University. Emmy-winning actor Timothy Busfield will serve as an artist in residence at Michigan State University's College of Communication Arts and Sciences. The 58-year-old Busfield will develop programming for Michigan State's public TV station and teach classes on acting and fiction films. Itâs somewhat of a homecoming for the actor, who attended East Lansing schools when his father was a professor at MSU. Busfield has had many roles in movies and television, including "Thirtysomething", "Field of Dreams" and "The West Wing." He's also worked as a director. Busfield lives in Brighton with wife Melissa Gilbert, who last week announced she was dropping out of her race for Congress in the 8th District. Busfield is committed to a one-year term at MSU and officially starts on June 15th. (JM)
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Gray Wins Substance Abuse Awareness AwardGray Wins Substance Abuse Awareness Award
The Brighton Area Schools Superintendent has won an award from the Drug-Free Action Alliance for his leadership role in the âParents Who Host Lose the Mostâ program. Superintendent Greg Gray was presented the citation at last Monday nightâs school board meeting. Gray says the school district works hand-in-hand with the organization, and the parent Drug Free Action Alliance, to educate students and their parents about the dangers of drinking and drug use. He tells WHMI that good decisions on the part of students and parents are particularly important at this time of year, with all of the graduation and end-of-school-year parties taking place. Gray emphasizes that the school district doesnât want students to make any destructive decisions outside the classroom that would adversely affect them for the rest of their lives. (TT)
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Open House To Celebrate "Wish For Windows" Project In FowlervilleOpen House To Celebrate "Wish For Windows" Project In Fowlerville
An upcoming open house will offer an opportunity to thank donors and show off building improvements at a local senior center. The âWish for Windowsâ project involved a combination of efforts from the Fowlerville Senior Center and Fowlerville Community Schools. The Academy uses the center as a computer lab and the two came together to raise money to replace all of the windows, which were originally installed in 1961. The project was a success, with $13,000 was donated from 59 individuals and businesses to install new windows and doors. As a thank you to all of the community members that played a role in the project, officials have organized a ribbon cutting and open house event on Wednesday, June 8th from 11am to 1pm. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11am. Those who donated to the project will also have a plaque in their name hung in the centerâs entry way. (JM)
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Howell Students Win Honors At State Industrial And Technology CompetitionHowell Students Win Honors At State Industrial And Technology Competition
Four local students won honors for demonstrating their technological prowess at a statewide competition. The Michigan Industrial and Technology Education Society held its 88th annual student project contest earlier this month and four pupils from Howell High School excelled. Logan Huff earned the highest award, the Grand Award, in the Machine Shop Division for a chess set he created. Austin Rhodesâ metal cannon earned a first place prize in the machine models category of the same division. Both students used computer-aided machining software to design their projects, and a computer-numerical-control machine to create the pieces. Drake Coy also won a first place award in the photo-realistic rendering category for his reverse engineered drawing of a spray gun using computer-aided design software. A sixth place prize was also claimed by Anthony Tedesco in the rapid prototyping-assembling category for a 3D printed and assembled steam engine. (MK)
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